Heaven upon earth, or, The best friend in the worst of times. Delivered in…

It is storied of Constantine and Valentinian two Roman Emperors, that they subscribed themselves Vassellos Christi, the vassels of Christ; and that Numa Pompilius esteemed it a higher honour to be a Friend of God, then a Lord of Men. Consider poor sinner, consider what honours you slight, what preferments you refuse, what dignity you undervalue, when you make light of acquaintance with God. Had that brave Stoic, Epictetus I mean, known God in Christ, he would much more have wondered at the inconsiderateness of them which make nothing of being related to God as a Father, he would much more have pitied them which cleave to their lower, meaner kindred, beast, who had rather be like Swine then God, and rather be companions to their servants then their Maker. Seems it to you but a light matter to be a Kings Son? is it but a small matter, think you, to call God Father? is it nothing to be born to a Crown Immortal, that sadeth not away? This is honour, this is preferment worth the having, worth the looking after, worth the venturing ones life for. This is true Nobility to stand thus nearly related to him, before whom the Angels do veil their glorious Faces, and at whose feet the four and twenty Elders lay their Crowns. The Queen of Sheba thought Solomons Servants, happy, who stood always in his presence, and heard this wisdom; but what would she have said, had she but known the Honour and Glory of his Prince! O blessed are those that stand always in thy presence ⟨p. 130⟩O God blessed are thy servants, blessed are those which see thy Glory, and hear thy wisdom; blessed are they that may have free access to thee. O let me have this preferment, though I live like Job at his lowest, and dye like Lazarus. Let others sue for the favour of Princes, let them make the best of what the world can give, let them desire that which hath been dangerous to more then Haman; I hope I should never envy them, might I but have more frequent and intimate converse with God, may I be but acquainted with him; O may I have but a heart more to admire, love, and delight in him, and serve him with the strength and intenseness of my Soul while I am here, and stand for ever in his presence, and behold his glorious Face with joy hereafter. O my Soul what meanest thou, that thou still speakest so faintly and coldly of such infinitely glorious things?

It is storied of Constantine and Valentinian two Roman Emperours, that they subscribed themselves Vassellos Christi, the vassels of Christ; and that Numa Pompilius esteemed it a higher honour to be a Friend of God, then a Lord of Men. Consider poor sinner, consider what honours you slight, what preserments you refuse, what dignity you undervalue, when you make light of acquaintance with God. Had that brave Stoick, Epictetus I mean, known God in Christ, he would much more have wondered at the inconsiderateness of them which make nothing of being related to God as a Father, he would much more have pitty'd them which cleave to their lower, meaner kindred, beast, who had rather be like Swine then God, and rather be companions to their servants then their Maker. Seems it to you but a light matter to be a Kings Son? is it but a small matter, think you, to call God Father? is it nothing to be born to a Crown Immortal, that sadeth not away? This is honour, this is preferment worth the having, worth the looking after, worth the venturing ones life for. This is true Nobility to stand thus nearly related to him, before whom the Angels do vail their glorious Faces, and at whose feet the four and twenty Elders lay their Crowns. The Queen of Sheba thought Solomons Servants, happy, who stood always in his presence, and heard this wisdom; but what would she have said, had she but known the Honour and Glory of his Prince! O blessed are those that stand always in thy presence